SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Former U.S. Rep. Mia Love of Utah, a daughter of Haitian immigrants who turned the primary Black Republican girl elected to Congress, died Sunday.
She was 49.
Love’s household posted information of her loss of life on Love’s X account.
She had undergone latest remedy for mind most cancers and acquired immunotherapy as a part of a scientific trial at Duke College’s mind tumor middle. Her daughter mentioned earlier this month that the previous lawmaker was now not responding to remedy.
Love died at her residence in Saratoga Springs, Utah, in response to a press release posted by the household.
“With grateful hearts crammed to overflowing for the profound affect of Mia on our lives, we would like you to know that she handed away peacefully,” her household mentioned. “We’re grateful for the various good needs, prayers and condolences.”
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox referred to Love as a “true pal.”
“Her legacy of service impressed all who knew her,” Cox mentioned in a press release. “We pray for her household and mourn with them.”
Love entered politics in 2003 after successful a seat on the town council in Saratoga Springs, a rising neighborhood about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of Salt Lake Metropolis. She later turned the town’s mayor.
In 2012, Love narrowly misplaced a bid for the Home towards the Democratic incumbent, former Rep. Jim Matheson, in a district that covers a string of Salt Lake Metropolis suburbs.
She ran once more two years later and defeated first-time candidate Doug Owens by about 7,500 votes.
Love didn’t emphasize her race throughout her campaigns, however she acknowledged the importance of her election after her 2014 victory. She mentioned her win defied naysayers who had prompt {that a} Black, Republican, Mormon girl couldn’t win a congressional seat in overwhelmingly white Utah.
She was briefly thought-about a rising star inside the GOP and he or she stored her distance from Donald Trump, who was unpopular with many Utah voters, whereas he was operating for president forward of the 2016 election.
In 2016, dealing with reelection and following the discharge of a 2005 recording wherein Trump made lewd feedback about groping ladies, Love skipped the Republican Nationwide Conference and launched a press release saying definitively that she wouldn’t vote for Trump. She as a substitute endorsed Texas Sen. Ted Cruz within the GOP race, however he dropped out months later.
Whereas searching for a 3rd time period in 2018, Love tried to separate herself Trump on commerce and immigration whereas nonetheless backing her celebration’s positions on tax cuts. Regardless of Republican voters outnumbering Democrats by an almost three-to-one margin in her district, although, she misplaced by fewer than 700 votes to former Salt Lake Metropolis Mayor Ben McAdams, a Democrat.
Trump referred to as out Love by identify in a information convention the morning after she misplaced, the place he additionally bashed different Republicans who didn’t absolutely embrace him.
“Mia Love gave me no love, and he or she misplaced,” Trump mentioned. “Too unhealthy. Sorry about that, Mia.”
After her loss, Love served as a political commentator on CNN and as a fellow on the College of Sydney.
Following Trump’s election in November, Love mentioned she was “OK with the end result.”
“Sure, Trump says quite a lot of thoughtless issues which might be unlucky and unimaginable to defend. Nonetheless, his insurance policies have a excessive likelihood of benefiting all People,” Love wrote in a social media put up.
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